Cleaning device



J. P. REEFF CLEANING DEVICE I June 10 1924.

v Filed Feb. 14 1922 Patented June 10, 1924.

1.4a7,229 OFFICE.

JOHN 1?. runner, on EARLING, IOWA.

CLEANING DEVICE.

Application filed February 14, 1922. Serial No. 536,411.

T (all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. Rnnrr, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Earling, in the county of Shelby, State of Iowa, have t invented a new and useful Cleaning Device;

and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to cleaning devices of a character'wherein a cleaning fluid, such for instance as benzine or gasoline is disposed within a container and fed from the container to a brush or scrubbing element carried by the container, thereby allowing a cleaner to keep the cleaning device on a table adjacent the work being done, and not be required to dip a rag or brush intoa fluid during the operation of cleaning clothing.

A further object is to provide a fountain cleaning device comprising a receptacle forming a handle member, a cleaning element at one end of said receptacle and detachably connected thereto, a valve seat in the lower end of the receptacle, with which valve seat a valve carried by the upper end of the receptacle cooperates, for controlling the flow of the cleaning fluid to the cleaning element. Also to provide an air vent which is carried by the valve stem and opened when the valve is unseated for admitting air to the receptacle as the fluid therein is consumed.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the cleaning device.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view through the cleaning device taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of cleaning device showing the use of a perforated plate instead of a valve.

forms a handle member for the device adapted to be grasped by the hand of the operator during a cleaning operation, but also provides a chamber 2 for the reception of a cleaning fluid-3, thereby forming a reservoir for the cleaning fluid. Disposed within the lower end of the chamber 2 is a partition 4, which may be soldered or welded as at 5 to the interior periphery of the body member 1. The partition 4 at a point centrally thereof is provided with a valve seat 6, with which the conically shaped end 7 of the threaded valve'stem 8 cooperates for regulating and controlling the flow of fluid from the chamber 2 to the absorbent cleaning element 9. The cleaning element 9 may be formed from any kind of absorbent material, such for in-. stance as felt having bristles 9 therein, and in operation is vigorously moved over the surface being cleaned, such for instance as over a grease spot on clothing. The amount of fluid allowed to flow from the chamber 2 is regulated as desired for supplying sufficient fluid to the cleaning element 9 during a cleaning operation. However when the device is not in use the conically shaped end 7 of the threaded valve stem 8 is forced into close engagement with the valve seat 6 thereby cutting oii" the flow of fluid to the cleaning element. The valve stem 8' is threaded through a boss 10 carried by the upper end 11 of the body member 1. The upper end of the adjusting screw 8 is provided with a thumb nut 12 whereby the operator may easily and quickly adjust the screw as desired.

Cleaning element 9 is adhesively secured as at 13 in a cork sleeve 14, which cork sleeve is threaded as at 15 into the lower end of the body member 1 and prevents leakage through the threaded connection by the expansive action of the cork sleeve 14. When the conically shaped end 7 of the valve stem 8 is unseated, fluid will flow into the compartment 16 above the cleaning element and will be gradually absorbed by the cleaning element and fed downwardly to the lower end 17 thereof, where it will come into contact with the article being cleaned and will be consumed and utilized as a solvent. It has been found that as the fluid 3 is consumed that a supply of air to the chamber 2 is desirable, thereby allowing the fluid to flow freely from the chamber and preventing the device from becoming air bound. To accomplish this re salt the upper end of the threaded valve stem 8 is provided with a groove 18, which groove when the threaded valve stem is unscrewed. allows the passage of air from the atmosphere to the receptacle 2. To prevent leakage between the finger engaging member 12 and the boss a cork washer 19 is provided, which cork washer preferably moves upwardly upon an upward movement of the threaded valve stem. When it is desired to fill the receptacle the screw 20 is removed thereby allowing fluid to pass through the threaded filling opening 21 to the chamber 2.

Referring to Figure 3 wherein a modified form of cleaner is disclosed the numeral 1* designates the body member and 2 the fluid chamber therein. Disposed in the end of the body member 1 is a perforated disc 1", through which disc fluid flows when the device is in use. hen the device is not in use, it is maintained in the position shown in Figure 3. Threaded into the end of the body member 1 is a cork sleeve 1, which cork sleeve prevents leakage and also carries a cleaning element 1 similar to the cleaning element shown in Figure 1, and used in the same manner, the operation being the same.

From the above it will be seen that a cleaning device is provided, which is simple in construction, may be cheaply manufactured and sold, and one which is compact and may be kept on an ironing table or board where it can be easily reached for use during a cleaning operation.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is A cleaning device comprising a cylindrical body portion having a chamber therein, a cleaning element threaded into the lower end of the body portion, said threaded connection between the cleaning element and the body portion being formed by threads carried by the body portion and a cork sleeve surrounding the cleaning element and adhesively secured to the outer side of the cleaning element.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN P. REEFF.

Witnesses W. B. RYAN, HELEN MUENCHRATH. 

